| It's hard to believe that there are people in | | | | Computer Automated Engineering (CAE). I |
| today's workforce who don't know how to use a | | | | showed him how to drag electronic components |
| computer. In today's society, being computer | | | | from a library, use the mouse to draw circuit |
| illiterate is equivalent to being | | | | paths, make the computer simulate the |
| functionally illiterate. Obviously no one | | | | function of the circuit, and then make the |
| reading this article is computer illiterate, | | | | computer layout a pc board for the circuit.He |
| but maybe you know someone who thinks they | | | | was able to easily master complex technology |
| can avoid computers and still be successful | | | | because he now understood that he wasn't |
| at work.Let me tell you a story about a good | | | | stupid. Computers ARE complex. When he needed |
| friend of mine back when I worked at | | | | help, he studied the help files or asked |
| Motorola. The company moved the manufacturing | | | | someone for help. Eventually, his CAE skills |
| of automobile alternators offshore, resulting | | | | became known and I lost him to another |
| in his transfer to my department. Although he | | | | manager. "His last stop before being booted |
| had about 20 years with the company, this was | | | | out the door?" I don't think so. There's no |
| to be his last stop before being booted out | | | | way Motorola is going to let this valuable |
| the door.He was assigned to me as an | | | | employee get away.Even though it's the |
| Electronics Technician, and the first | | | | programmers fault that computers and software |
| assignment that I gave him was to lay out a | | | | are too complex, that doesn't relieve you of |
| small printed circuit (pc) board. It was a | | | | all responsibility. You must make an effort. |
| tiny circuit for a tester, so computer | | | | Like my friend at Motorola, you must study |
| drafting was not required. He could just | | | | the help files or ask someone for help when |
| sketch it out on paper. After several days, | | | | you need it. Not only must you study the help |
| he came back to me explaining that he didn't | | | | files, but you must also be willing to "try |
| have the technical ability to lay out a pc | | | | things".Many people fear that if they click |
| board.An Electronics Technician that couldn't | | | | on the wrong thing, the computer will blow up |
| lay out a simple pc board? Don't all | | | | and they will be blamed for it. A properly |
| Electronics Technicians make little hobby | | | | designed software application prevents the |
| circuits at home? At least all the | | | | user from making a fatal mistake, either by |
| technicians I knew did.I explained that he | | | | making it impossible, or by providing a |
| needed to draw outlines of the components and | | | | warning message. A properly designed |
| then use the schematic to draw lines between | | | | application lets the user "back out of" or |
| the components connections. Then, maybe | | | | reverse any action. One of the best ways to |
| rearrange the components if that would result | | | | learn is to "try things". If the computer |
| in fewer crossing paths. I also explained | | | | blow ups because you made a mistake, you're |
| something much more profound, how to deal | | | | using improperly designed software.When |
| with the complexity of technology.Many | | | | you're learning how to perform a function |
| people, when they come into contact with | | | | with a computer, if you expect you may need |
| technology, consider themselves too stupid to | | | | to perform that same function again, take |
| deal with it. Technology is only for geniuses | | | | notes. No one will think you're stupid if you |
| and geeks. Sometimes technology is too | | | | take notes. But if you keep asking over and |
| complex, but it's not because people are | | | | over again how to perform the same function, |
| stupid, it's because the technology is poorly | | | | they will think you're too stupid to take |
| designed.For example, take software, like a | | | | notes.When I worked at Motorola, I used a |
| graphics program, spreadsheet or database. Is | | | | technique called "strokes" to make symbols |
| the intended user of the software a computer | | | | appear and move around the computer screen |
| programmer, or an average person? These | | | | like magic. Some people called me the |
| applications are intended for use by an | | | | "Electronic God". How did I get so good? I |
| average person. If an application is too | | | | tried things. I failed. I studied. I tried |
| complex for the average person, the | | | | again. I understood that technology IS |
| application is at fault - not the user.Why | | | | complex. So what?In today's society, being |
| are most computers and software applications | | | | computer illiterate is equivalent to being |
| too complex for the average person? Because | | | | functionally illiterate. Make the effort to |
| they are designed by programmers who are | | | | study the help files and to "try things". |
| under pressure to get the product out the | | | | Don't get discouraged or blame yourself if |
| door. Does the application have simple, | | | | you don't succeed on the first try. The |
| easy-to-use help files? Software developers | | | | computer won't blow up if you make a mistake. |
| consider help files even less important than | | | | You can't be successful at work if you fail |
| application usability.- The bottom line is, | | | | to embrace computers and |
| people are not stupid - computers and | | | | technology.Copyright(C) 2004 Bucaro |
| software applications ARE too complex.In | | | | TecHelp.Permission is granted for the below |
| today's world, where workers are required to | | | | article to forward, reprint, distribute, use |
| use computers and technology, how can they | | | | for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free |
| deal with the complexity? Back to the story | | | | bonus or part of a product for sale as long |
| about my friend at Motorola.After receiving | | | | as no changes are made and the byline, |
| my instructions, he successfully completed | | | | copyright, and the resource box below is |
| the pc board layout. I then introduced him to | | | | included. |